nch, waved in the
air, and Joe plumped down into the bottom of the boat.

Shaddy chuckled and wiped the water out of his eye.

"I'm thinking so much about trees washed from the bank that I can't see
anything else."

"But it was only a small tree, Shaddy, and did us no harm."

"Warn't a tree at all, lad, only a 'gator fast asleep on the top of the
water going west and warming his back in the sun same time."

"An alligator?"

"Yes, my lad. Didn't you see what a flap he gave with his tail! But
now just look there at Mr Jovanni. I call it rank obstinit. Just as
if there was no other place where he could sit but right on the starn!
There, you're friends, and he'll take it better from you. Go through
the cabin and ask him to get off. I don't want him to go overboard."

"Neither do I, Shaddy, but we are not friends, and if I ask him he will
stop there all the more."

"Then I must," said Shaddy. "Hi, Mr Jovanni, sir! Don't sit there; it
ain't safe."

"Oh yes, I'm quite safe," cried the boy sharply. "Never mind me."

"Hark at him! Don't mind him! What'll his father say to me if I go
back without him? Pull, lads, pull!"

Shaddy's order was necessary, for a huge tree--unmistakably a tree this
time--lay right across their way just where the river made a sudden bend
round to their left.

The better way would have been to have gone to the right, where there
was more room, but, the curve of the river being of course on that side
greater, there would not have been time to get round before the boat was
swept in amongst the branches, so perforce their steersman made for the
left.

This took them close in to where the bank should have been, but which
was now submerged, and the boat floated close in to the great wall of
trees marking the edge of the stream, and so little room was there that,
to avoid the floating tree-top, the boat was forced close in shore,
where the stream at the bend ran furiously.

"Look out!" roared Shaddy. "Heads down!" and Rob, who had been watching
the obstacle in their way, only just had time to duck down as, with a
tremendous rushing and crackling sound, they passed right through a mass
of pendent boughs which threatened to sweep the boat clear of cabin and
crew as well, as the stream urged it on.

The trouble only lasted a few seconds, though, and then they were
through and floating swiftly round the inner curve toward an open patch
of the shore which rose all clear of water and t